FAQs - General Surgery Certifying Exam

Once QE results are posted on the ABS website, candidates who passed the QE should select via the website a CE date/site as soon as possible. This selection must be made no later than Sept. 1 for that academic year. They will then be tentatively assigned to that site and subsequently sent instructions on how to register for that CE.

No. You must have a full and unrestricted medical license to take the Certifying Examination, even if you are currently in a fellowship. Temporary, limited, educational or institutional medical licenses will not be accepted.

Candidates can check their CE assignment status at any time on their Exam Records page under My Records. Please allow a few days after submitting the registration items for your status to be updated. Once you are registered, your final assignment with a specific exam date and time will be posted. Admission materials with further details regarding the exam will be mailed to you four to six weeks prior to the exam date.

Tentative assignments are not guaranteed in any way. The registration form and exam fee should be submitted to the ABS as soon as you are able to commit to taking that CE. CEs are slightly overbooked, so you may lose your spot if you wait until the last minute or after the deadline to register. Once the deadline is reached, any unconfirmed spots are opened up to those on the waiting list. You will now have to select another exam site to take the CE.

You will need to be present only for one of the three days of the exam (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday) and only for the morning or afternoon session (approximately 1/2 day). If you are assigned to a morning exam, you will have a candidate briefing at 7 a.m. and your exam will be held from either 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. If you have an afternoon exam, your briefing will be at 12 p.m. and your exam will be held from either 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. You are free to leave after your third exam session.

Approximately three to six months. If you need proof of certification and/or your certificate number, you may print a verification of certification letter using Check a Certification on the ABS website. You may also submit a request in writing for a letter by email, fax or mail.

Residents' performance on ABS examinations is one factor evaluated by the ACGME when reviewing a residency program's accreditation. Your program thus needs to continuously monitor the examination performance of its residents.